Some government workers in Indonesia ordered to work from home to quell pollution

The majority of the Earth’s air is considered unsafe, according to some reports. And while the jury is still out on whether in-person or remote work is more effective from a business perspective, some research suggests that keeping workers at home may help the environment.

Now, many government workers in one country’s capital are being told to stay home in an effort to help clear the air.

Where in the world? Jakarta, Indonesia, has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world—and the most polluted air. Last month, the metropolitan area, which is home to 30 million people, told one-half of its public sector employees (approximately 25,000 people) to work remotely, reported the Association of Foreign Press.

There’s a debate over whether the pollution was caused by the coal-fired factories and power plants, or the weather and traffic. Regardless, the city wants 50% of its public-sector workers home from August 21 through October 21, and up to 75% during the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting the first week in September. The country’s president, Joko Widodo, hopes private-sector companies will follow suit.

“The extended dry season spanning the past three months has intensified pollutant levels…If deemed necessary, we will advocate for a hybrid work system in offices, a blend of onsite and remote work,” Widodo said in a statement reported by CNN.

Satellite view. Beijing has also had workers temporarily work from home when pollution is especially bad, not just to reduce carbon emissions from cars, but to keep employees safe from the potentially hazardous air. Several US companies and local governments had employees stay home in early June, when smoke from Canadian wildfires made the air unsafe to breathe.

Going forward, more cities and companies may institute work from home measures to keep employees—and the planet—as safe as possible.